Learner-Centered Psychological Principles
The following 14 psychological principles pertain to all learners and the learning process. They are best understood as an organized set of principles; no principle should be viewed in isolation. This document is adapted from the principles developed by the American Psychological Association.
1.The learning of complex subject matter is most effective when it is an intentional process of constructing meaning from information and experience.
Successful learners are active, goal-oriented, self-regulating, and assume personal responsibility for contributing to their own learning.
Message for Teachers:
Use techniques that aid students in constructing meaning from information, experiences, and their own thought and beliefs.
2.The successful learner, over time and with support and instructional guidance, can create meaningful, coherent representations of knowledge.
The strategic nature of learning requires students to be goal directed. Students must generate and pursue personally relevant goals.
Message for Teachers:
Create meaningful student learning goals consistent with their personal and educational aspirations and interests.
3.The successful learner can link new information with existing knowledge in meaningful ways.
Knowledge widens and deepens as student continue to build links between new information and experiences and their existing knowledge base. Unless new knowledge become integrated with the learner's prior knowledge and understanding, this new knowledge remains isolated, cannot be used most effectively in new tasks, and does not transfer readily to new situations.
Message for Teachers:
Assist learners in acquiring and integrating knowledge by using such strategies as concept mapping and thematic organization or categorizing.
4.The successful learner can create and use a repertoire of thinking and